JOHANNS WILL JOIN NEGOP HALL OF FAME THIS SATURDAY

US Senator Mike Johanns and his wife Stephanie will be inducted into the Nebraska Republican Party Hall of Fame at the Founders Day awards dinner this Saturday, March 9 in Kearney.

US Senator Mike Johanns and his wife Stephanie will be inducted into the Nebraska Republican Party Hall of Fame at the Founders Day awards dinner this Saturday, March 9 in Kearney. The event will feature remarks from US Senator Deb Fischer, Congressman Adrian Smith, and a keynote address from Gering native and 2011 Miss America Teresa Scanlan.

"Senator Johanns is a consummate statesman and his years of steady leadership have been of great service to our state and party," said NEGOP Chairman Mark Fahleson. "He and Stephanie are very deserving of this honor."

Founders Day is a biannual event that honors the spirit and service of Republican volunteers and activists across the state. Saturday's dinner at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney will mark the first time in 14 years that the event will be hosted somewhere other than Omaha.

"The good people of Western Nebraska are the lifeblood of our party, and hosting this event the in the Third District is long overdue," Fahleson said.

Other honorees that evening will include former NEGOP Chairman and former Omaha City Councilman Chuck Sigerson, who will receive the Living Legend award, and NEGOP Treasurer Rod Krogh, who's made a full recovery from injuries suffered after a devastating car accident in October 2011. Krogh will receive the Keith Glaze Booster Club award for his dedication to the party.

In addition to the featured guests, Fahleson said that many prospective candidates for Governor and US Senate will be on hand to take part in the event.

"For anyone with an interest in the future - and the future stars - of the Republican Party in Nebraska, Kearney is the place to be this weekend," Fahleson said.

A limited number of tickets and table sponsorships remain available for the event. Reservations can be made by phone with Raven at 402-475-2122 or online at www.negop.org.